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1. GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE STUDY
Democratic Governance
Governance concerns the performance of public organs. It is, on the one hand, a matter of
procedures; of upholding certain modes of operation that accord with generally accepted
codes of sound administrative behaviour (such as the principles of transparency,
accountability and the rule of law). On the other hand, and more fundamentally, governance
concerns the state’s capacity to deliver. Public organs shall not only behave in accordance
with ‘the book’; they shall also get things done. The bottom-line, in other words, is
effectiveness: the ability of state authorities to actually provide society with certain goods
and services. It is generally assumed, however, that these two aspects of governance are in
concert. Sound administrative practices (if properly applied) are believed to increase state
efficiency.
Governance does not in itself, however, say anything about what the state ought to do,
about which of society’s demands and interests should be promoted – which is where
democracy becomes relevant. When we talk about democratic governance we refer to a
state that is capable of effectively meeting broad popular demands. It is generally agreed
nowadays that this can only be achieved by means of democratic procedures: through the
introduction of essential democratic rights, such as political freedoms and elections. It is
only the people themselves that should judge what needs and interests should be served in
political life. Hence, the establishment of democracy’s different representative organs, and
other channels of political action and expression allow people the opportunity to articulate
and put pressure behind their different policy demands. At the same time, people could gain
insights into the performance of public organs, which may boost administrative regularity
and efficiency. To that end, organs of administrative and legal control are put in place as
well. This combination of popular involvement and bureaucratic and judicial scrutiny – two
forms of pressure and control that can be mutually reinforcing – is believed to further
democratic governance. The state becomes responsive to broad popular interests – given the
resources at hand – while operating in an orderly and effective way (Pierre and Peter 2000;
World Bank 1994; Bratton and Hydén 1992).
Convention